Parking Regulations

This page provides most information needed to understand the parking regulations at Sonoma State University. The entire policy may be found at the University Policies web site.

Enforcement Hours

Permit Requirements

Parking permits are required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Parking regulations, including timed zones, are enforced 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Housing Lots

A Housing parking permit is required in the Housing lots 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. General and Reserved parking permits are honored in the Housing lots between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ONLY. Housing permits will be strictly enforced after 5:00 p.m.

Please refer to the campus map for areas designated as Housing parking. These lots are designed with a circled "H" on the map.

Reserved Parking

Reserved parking is located primarily in A and D lots and on Juniper Lane. Reserved parking is on a first-come first basis. A reserved permit is required to park in a reserved area for any period of time. Evening reserved permits are valid in reserved spaces between 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. All reserved permits , including "Evening Reserved" permits are also valid in general parking lots at all times. Reserved permits are honored in Housing lots between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ONLY.

Visitor and Short-Term Parking

Official University Guests

Official guests of the University may pick up thier pre-arranged visitor parking permit at one of the Parking Information Centers or at Police & Safety Services. After obtaining the visitor parking permit, visitors may park in any general or reserved parking space or in areas specially designated for visitors. Employees on campus who are hosting official University guests must request visitor parking in advance by contacting Police and Safety Services 48 hours in advance of the visit.

Limited Use of Timed Parking

A vehicle's usage of a timed parking zone is limited to once in a four hour period.

General Public

Short-term visitors (other than faculty, staff or students) may park without a permit in any timed zone for the time designated (except yellow loading zones). Visitors may purchase a daily parking permit from any of the permit machines or from either of the Parking Information Centers.

Parking for Disabled Persons

A number of parking spaces on campus have been reserved for the disabled. These spaces are located primarily in parking lots A, B, C, D, E, F, G, L, M and in residence hall lots. Vehicles displaying a valid disabled parking placard or plate AND a University parking permit may also park in green timed limited parking spaces in excess of the posted time.

Unauthorized use of a disabled space will result in a $275 citation which is typically not cancelled on appeal.

Effective January 2010, California state law requires that repeated unauthorized use of a disabled space will cause the fine to double for each subsequent violation, up to $1000.

All vehicles using disabled parking spaces must display a valid DMV license plate or placard.

Unauthorized use of a disabled placard may be punished with fines up to $3,500 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months.

All vehicles using disabled parking spaces must also display a valid SSU parking permit.

Disabled students receiving financial aid may be eligible for a waiver of parking fees. Please contact the Financial Aid office for details.

Motorcycles & Bicycles

Motorcycles, mopeds and motorized bicycles are not allowed to park in bicycle racks. All such vehicles must utilize the motorcycle parking areas provided in A, G, H, and J lots, the residence hall lots and at the south main entrance. Bicycles must be parked at bicycle racks; otherwise they are subject to impound. Free bicycle registration is available at Police Services.